Macro

China property surge may be turning

Contrary to domestic newspaper coverage today, the most telling recent developments in China's real estate sector may not be the recent surge in prices but rather some early signs showing that business may be moderating.

  • 11 March 2010

February exports up 45.7% from a year earlier

China's exports rose 45.7% to $94.52bn (Rmb 645.3bn, €69.6bn, £63.3bn) from a year earlier in February, while imports were up 44.7% to $86.9bn, narrowing the country's trade surplus to $7.6bn from $14.2bn in January, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs today. Two-way trade was up 45.2% year on year to $181.43bn. On a seasonally adjusted basis, exports were up 59.1% year on year, while imports surged a massive 74.7%, the bureau reported.

  • 10 March 2010

New loans in February expected to be Rmb 700bn

February lending is expected to be around Rmb 700bn ($102.5bn, £68.8bn, €75.7bn), according to domestic banking sources, down sharply from January when new loans hit Rmb 1,390bn. It may however be too early to construe that credit tightening measures are impacting lending behaviour. Lending days were cut significantly in February due to the Chinese New Year holiday between February 14-20, and the fact that February was a short month.

  • 10 March 2010

Rmb appreciation. Will 2010 be the year?

Arguments exist both for and against the move, but overall, the case for an early appreciation of the renminbi is less than compelling.

  • 04 March 2010

Sephora: China growth 'extraordinary'

LVMH's high-end cosmetics retailer is proving popular with China's middle class urban females.

  • 04 March 2010

Succession politics

The question of which leaders are set to succeed President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen in 2012 will form a key hidden context to much of the debate at this month's National People's Congress.

  • 04 March 2010

Informal lending takes off, regulation proposed

A surge in informal lending rates raises concerns in Beijing, which renews its desire to regulate the freewheeling sector.

  • 04 March 2010

Factor inflation shows overheating

An almost across-the-board rise in industrial input prices shows the structural nature of China's inflationary pressures, obliging Beijing to maintain vigilance against overheating.

  • 04 March 2010

The outlook for Chinese listings

Gavin Ni, chief executive officer and president of Zero2IPO, talks on China's initial public offering environment in 2010.

  • 04 March 2010

The course of monetary tightening

How far will Beijing go to forestall economic overheating?

  • 04 March 2010

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